The Knickerbockers was formed in 1964 by Buddy Randell (saxophone), a former member of the Royal Teens and Jimmy Walker (drums/vocals). The line-up was completed by the Charles brothers, John (bass) and Beau (lead guitar). Originally known as the Castle Kings, the group took its name from an avenue in their home town of Bergenfield, New Jersey, USA. Signed to the Challenge labe
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Formed in Northridge, California, USA, in 1964, this folk rock group began its career as the Rockwells, a college-based frat band. Founder members Robert Lee Reiner (guitar) and Jim Pons (bass) were joined by Bill Rinehart (guitar) and Jimmy Kern (drums) in an attraction offering a diet of surf tunes and R&B-styled oldies. By the end of the year vocalist John Be
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Formed in 1964 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, USA, the Barbarians comprised Jeff Morris, Jerry Causi, Bruce Benson and Moulty Molten. They made their recording debut with Hey Little Bird, issued on the local Joy Records, prior to signing a contract with Laurie Records. In 1965 the Barbarians enjoyed a minor US hit with Are You A Boy Or Are You A G
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Formed in Chicago in 1965, the original line-up comprised Jim Sohns (vocals), Warren Rogers (lead guitar), Jerry McGeorge (rhythm guitar), Norm Gotsch (bass) and Tom Schiffour (drums). As the house band at the citys Cellar club, the Shadows were already highly popular when they secured a recording contract. Their debut single, a cover version of the classic Them track,
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This Boston, USA-based garage band was formed in 1964 by guitarist/vocalist Barry Tashian. Inspired by a trip to London, where he heard British groups playing material he loved - Jimmy Reed, Little Walter, Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker - Tashian put together the Remains with Bill Briggs (keyboards), Vern Miller (bass) and Chip Damiani (drums). They made their debut in 1965 wi
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Tony Valentino (guitar/vocals) and Larry Tamblyn (organ) formed the Standells in 1962. The early line-up included drummer Gary Leeds (3 September 1944, Glendale, California, USA), who later found fame in the Walker Brothers, Gary Lane (bass) and former Mousketeer Dick Dodd (drums). The quartet became a leading teen-based attraction in plush Los Angeles nightspots. This confo
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Formed in Orlando, Florida, USA, We The People combined members of two groups managed by local entrepreneur, Ron Dillman. David Duff (guitar), Tommy Talton (guitar/bass) and Tom Wynn (drums) were previously in the Offbeets, whereas Wayne Proctor (guitar/bass) and Randy Boyte (organ) had played in the Trademarks. The new act made its recording debut in 1966 with My Brother
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Formed in New York in 1964, the Magicians comprised Allan Jacobs (lead guitar), Gary Bonner (rhythm guitar), John Townley (bass) and Alan Gordon (drums). They were briefly the house band at the famed Night Owl Cafe, but despite becoming the subject of a WCBS-television documentary, Four To Go! (1966), the quartet was unable to achieve a commercial breakthrough. They completed f
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This San Francisco-based group - Jimmy Alaimo (vocals/guitar), Paul Curcio (guitar), Don Metchick (organ) and Dennis DeCarr (drums) - was signed to Autumn, the citys leading independent label, in 1965. Here they enjoyed a fruitful artistic relationship with producer Sly Stone, which spawned a minor US hit in Dance With Me. Jan Errico, from stablemates the Vejt
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A US-based studio group comprising unknown personnel, the Balloon Farm recorded two singles for Laurie Records in 1968. The first, A Question Of Temperature, was a psychedelic pop song that reached number 37 in the US chart that year. Written by Donald Charles Henny, Edward Paul Schnug and Mike Appel, who presumably performed on the recording, it was later considere
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